Monday, March 7, 1999 The typical March day laughed at me and snow twirled around my scantly wrapped body and the singing windy pines whispered my name. I dragged my weary body up through the depths of the stones who bore the names of all my relatives from year one. The freshest grave on the hillside called to me. All that was left of all her beautiful flowers was a wreath of pink and red roses and inside the middle stood a tiny green angel I eyed the little sign from the local funeral home and I truly wished it would disappear into thin air. I collapsed upon the fresh earth of the little grave, and saturated the earth with my tears, my fingers grasp the mud and dirt and dug in, my face was buried in the cold clammy ground. The icy snow penetrated my face and added a new numbness to my brain! I didn’t care, who cares? I closed my eyes and cried like a baby. “Mom, please come back to me, don’t you know, I cannot live without you”! Please Mom, come and get me and take me to where you are. My loud sobbing was invaded by a singing voice, “Honey, why do you weep?” "Haven’t you read the scripture? “Great in the eyes of the Lord is the death of one of his saints”. I opened my eyes and sat up abruptly, Was I hallucinating? Was I finally at the depths of total desperation and gone over the edge with no return. Her face was the color of a silk white rose; Her lips were a rosy peach, she smiled and her smile lit up the heavens, winter turned to summer and streaks of sun invaded the snow filled day! Her long silken gown was emerald green and blowing with the March winds. Her blue eyes sparkled and dashed spots of life around the graveyard, her eyes blinked and sunshine gleamed and the snow disappeared into sparkles of diamond shapes She wrapped her wings around me, encircling me with care, warmth invaded my weary soul and inter peace flowed over me like spring sunshine. Honey, please let me dry your tears. You do know we all have to die, but with death, comes living, because only real life begins after you close your eyes in death, it is just one more step to life eternal. Do you not remember? You must try to remember what she said, “I must go, all things must die, there must be an end to all things except life with the Master”. Trust in him and we will have eternal life ever-after. “Mary, if you don’t remember what she said, then please remember what our Master said, “I must go away and prepare for you a place that where I am there you may be also”. Mary, would you like to see? Let's dry those tears, come fly away with me! She cradled me in her arms and off we flew thru the skies of March. We went flying over the gates inside the valley of ever- lasting life! A crystal river flowed gently thru the center of the city. We walked along the bank hand in hand, and then she said, “let’s wade”. Without saying a word, I slipped off my old wore out reboks, she took my hand, and the crystals of life swirled around my body, cool, cleansing, refreshing but yet warm and alive. The light from the center of the city called my name, I could not look upon the light, the brightest of it out weighed all of the would be night. The light said, “Come closer Mary”: Could I endure the light? I had never seen such bright. There were people everywhere dressed in white robes. What a celebration, worship everywhere, singing, shouting, praising the Lord! There was a table setting and a number that could not be counted were all decked out in white, ready to be seated. All the families gathered together, it was the family of the Lord, all different colors and race had come together in one place. At the head of the table sat the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Then I saw them, there they were, my family, there was grandma Louiza all beautiful and young, the smile on her face outshined the sun. There was my baby brother who had died when I was five, how handsome he was all grown up and alive. They were all gathered around, generation after generation. My heart did overflow with joy unspeakable! I ask the pretty angel, I just had to know, “please tell me, "where is momma, where did momma go”? At that moment she pointed her finger over to the right. “Why honey don’t you know, she’s in line to get a crown”. Then I looked and saw her, all dressed up in all that white, the stones on her crown were sparkling like white diamonds In the night. Momma came and sat at the table, I had never seen her so happy! Then she said to me, “hi, mommies baby”, her voice was like the sound of sparkling spring waters: she hugged me real close, then I knew I was home! An empty chair set by her side, buckled in and stamped so tight. I ask that pretty angel, “Who is seated here”? She said, “why Mary honey, turn the gold letters on the table and solve the mystery label”. I turned the label very slow, “who is the mystery guest"? I have never been so excited because it read, MARY ALICE BOWLES The pretty little angel cradled me in her arms and thru the March winds we did fly. She sat me down on the marble bench in front of mommas grave and knelt down before me, her wings circled and shadowed me, and then she said, “you must learn to live without the grief, Mary”. Just remember that I’ll be waiting for you on the road to life eternal after death closes your eyes, then we’ll fly away together to that far-away place called Heaven. The table is set, and I’m waiting to take my place at the table there and we’ll live and reign Forever, in my masters care! His name is Jesus! ©MARY ALICE BOWLES Free-lance writer, Southern Indiana May 6,200 |
| MOTHERS DAY "2005" |
 |
| images and background by: Mary Alice Bowles |
| God is ever present in the time of trouble, He gave me this story to help me make it through the day on Mothers Day! That day is the very worst day of the year for me! I miss her more than words can say. I LOVE YOU, MY DEAR MOTHER |
|
